Music: Kanye West ‘Only One’ w/ Sir Paul McCartney

You’re not perfect but you’re not your mistakes

Hours after a hip hop blog released a post that Kanye West was under pressure from Def Jam to release a single from his next album for New Year’s Eve/Day, it seems like he obliged. Sung with the assistance of Auto tune, the song is a significant departure from the synth and bass heavy style on Yeezus. It’s more downbeat and low tempo, performed over Sir Paul McCartney’s piano. The song is written from the perspective of the entertainer’s late mother, Donda West singing through Kanye to his daughter, North as evidenced by the line ” Tell Nori about me”.

People always ask me what my favorite Kanye song is and it’s Only One. Kanye feels like his mom sang thru him to our daughter. — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 1, 2015

I cry every time I hear this song — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 1, 2015

The track’s artwork was done by Dutch Photographer duo; Inez and Vinoodh

Lyrics via Just Jared

[Verse 1]
As I lay me down to sleep
I hear her speak to me
Hello Omari, how you doing?
I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are moving
I know you’re happy, cause I can see it
So tell the voice inside your head to believe it
I talked to God about you
He said he sent you an angel
Look at all that he gave you
You asked for one and you got two
You know I never left you
Cause every road that leads to heaven is right beside you
So I can say

[Hook 1]
Hello my only one
Just like the morning sun
You keep on rising till the sky knows your name
Hello my only one
Remember who you are
No you’re not perfect but you’re not your mistakes

[Verse 2]
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Oh the good outweighs the bad even on your worst day
Remember I’d say
Hey, hey, one day
You’ll be the man you always knew you could be
And if you knew, how proud I was
You’d never shed a tear, have a fear
No you wouldn’t do that
And no I didn’t pick the day to turn a page
I know it’s not the end every time I see her face
And I hear you say

[Hook 2]
Hello my only one
Remember who you are
You got the world cause you got the love in your hands
And you’re still my chosen one
So can you understand
One day you’ll understand

[Bridge]
So hear me out, hear me out
I won’t go, I won’t go
No goodbyes, no goodbyes
Just hello, just hello
And when you cry, I will cry
And when you smile, I will smile
And next time when I look in your eyes
We’ll have wings and we’ll fly

[Hook 1]

[Outro]
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about-
I just want you to do me a favor
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me